The following albums saw large shifts in style. Much Afraid saw them releasing gorgeous - sometimes brittle - music, which the Band intended to have a "timeless" sound, while If I Left the Zoo is a quirkier but musically brilliant album, featuring considerably more keys and experimentation. The Eleventh Hour is their first true "rock" album. They returned to acoustic guitars for the "Furthermore" project, which featured two EPs - a live disc and an acoustic disc. The band's 5th album, Who We Are Instead continued some of the band's earlier sonic experiments and showcased some new gospel, bluegrass, and hymnsong influences. The hymnsong approach was continued on an album of new arrangements of classic hymns - Redemption Songs.
Good Monsters was released on Sept. 05, 2006. The album was hailed by CCM Magazine as "Album of the Year" - a controversial move considering that this announcement was made in August. "Good Monsters" further showcases the diverse style of the venerable quartet and is considered by the band to be their first true "rock" record. It is a rock driven record with electric guitars having prevalence on more of the songs than any previous albums. The album also has other stylistic influences and even includes a choir of African school children, while lyrically, it hits the darker side of their self-shaped genre.
In 2007, Jars of Clay announced that they were leaving Essential Records and were creating their own record label, Gray Matters. Jars of Clay released Christmas Songs through Gray Matters in 2007, and the Closer EP was released in the Summer of 2008.
April 21, 2009 marked the release of The Long Fall Back to Earth, containing two tracks from the Closer EP and 12 additional tracks. Two Hands is the first single from that release.
Heart
Jars of Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll say we're in love, we probably are
No mountains to climb, papers to sign
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
One flag left to burn, one country to fall
One soul to pour out, one love to catch all
No walls to defend, wars to align
No mountains to climb, papers to sign
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
No mountains to climb, papers to sign
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
No walls to defend, wars to align
Give me your heart, you already have mine
Give me your heart, you already have mine
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
The opening line of Jars of Clay's "Heart in 2-3" may seem paradoxical as most people associate darkness with the absence or lack of visual cues, but in this context, it appears to signify an aura of mystery and the depth of a situation. This interpretation is further amplified by the fact that the darkness is only a means to an end, which is the unveiling of the stars. This line could be interpreted to mean that the singer is willing to go through a difficult period to expose the positive qualities of a particular situation or relationship.
The second part of the first verse, "They'll say we're in love, we probably are" gives insight that the singer is in a relationship where they are still unsure and seems to be taking it slow while they figure it out. This line suggests that there is a possibility of a budding romance, but the couple might still be hesitant to commit fully.
The chorus is a repeated phrasing that further deepens the idea that the singer has given their all and wishes for the other person to do the same. The verse, "One flag left to burn, one country to fall, One soul to pour out, one love to catch all" could relate to the battlefields of war or the conflicts of love. The line "No walls to defend, wars to align" could signify that in a true, open loving relationship, there are no conflicts or battles to be fought; everything is laid bare, and the individuals share all their thoughts and feelings.
"Offer your heart, I've given you mine" is repeated throughout the song, which signifies that the singer has given their all and is waiting for their partner to do the same. In essence, the lyrics could be interpreted as a plea for transparency and acknowledging the importance of a relationship built on mutual trust and love.
Line by Line Meaning
I let it get dark, so you'll see the stars
I allowed the darkness to consume us so that the light of the stars could illuminate our love
They'll say we're in love, we probably are
Even though the world may judge us, our love is real and undeniable
No mountains to climb, papers to sign
Our love is not complicated by external factors or obstacles
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
I am willing to give my heart to you, and I ask only that you do the same for me
One flag left to burn, one country to fall
The destruction of one nation or symbol does not outweigh the importance of love and unity
One soul to pour out, one love to catch all
We have only one life to give, and our love should be boundless and open to all
Give me your heart, you already have mine
I am committed to you and ask for nothing more in return than the same level of devotion
Give me your heart, you already have mine
Again, I am devoted to you and ask for the same in return
Offer your heart, I've given you mine
Once more, I am willing to give my heart and simply ask for the same from you
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHARLIE LOWELL, DAN HASELTINE, MATT ODMARK, STEPHEN DANIEL MASON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind